-
If I meet someone who's Native American and I don't know anything about indigenous people in New Jersey - which I kind of don't, which is not really good - I can learn more and more about their lives, and that makes me a more open person and a more accepting person.
-
It's important to read books and see people who look like you. It helps you know that you are not the only one or the weird one because you're a black girl and you are not seeing anyone who looks like you in these books.
-
I think writing gives me creative freedom.
-
My parents taught me the importance of telling the truth no matter what.
-
As members of society, we should always be pushing our girls to strive to be the best and to speak up and out about issues we see.
-
Hillary Clinton is someone who's never waited around for someone else to do the hard work. She's been an organizer and a change-maker for her whole life, practically.
-
Black History Month could focus less on slavery and civil rights and more on the Harlem Renaissance and everything we have achieved. I want to know about the whole black experience.
-
When I was really little, I wanted to be our first woman president. I always knew I want to be the kind of grownup who makes people's lives better. And since that's pretty much the job of the President of the United States, it seemed like a good idea.
-
My parents have taught me the value of reading and self-love through books that have characters that look like me and talk like me.
-
My passion for books has changed my life.
-
I want young girls to know that their passions are important and that they should pursue them, regardless of whether or not they think that they'll be successful in terms of the mainstream.
-
When I get lost in a book, it's just, like, magical!
-
Every time I've heard Ava DuVernay speak, I have learned so much.
-
I don't want to bring negative energy to myself, and if people feel one way about me, I don't want that changing how I feel or what I believe.
-
Most girls spend most of their time at school. If real change comes from hearing our voices, it has to start in school, but school is a place where black girls tend to experience microaggressions. Microaggressions are not always obvious, ugly, or terrible things, but they make you feel as though your voice does not matter.
-
I think the biggest thing is that success is not measured by whether or not you're on 'CBS This Morning' or whether or not you make the local news station.
-
Innovation comes from, one, acknowledging yourself; two, studying and understanding the problem; and three, finding a solution.
-
Between school, homework, tests, and play time with my friends, I have worked my butt off to create this space where black girls' stories are read and celebrated in schools and libraries.
-
I believe that feminism needs to teach more girls about how to make institutional changes and how to further engage men and boys into being our allies.
-
People say, 'Dream big!' - but you have to think about the logistics. It's not just coming up with a great idea; it's how you can sell or market or promote that great idea.
-
I think it is important to speak your mind. Tolerance of the ignorance sends the wrong message to kids.
-
I write every day.
-
It was the desire to see black girls and our experiences in the books that I was given to read at school that forced me to speak my truth. I launched #1000BlackGirlBooks, a book drive to collect the stories of women of color.
-
I've learned to use big words. Because I'm an avid reader, I can prove myself as a smart and diligent person.